Staten Island Advance/Michael SedonStanding with D.A. Daniel Donovan as he announced the creation of Staten Island's first "Victim Impact Panel" are, from left: Executive Director of the Long Island MADD Thomas McCoy; Donovan; CEO and President of the Resource Training Center, Donna Mae DePola; Mary Ann and Charles Edkins, whose 18-year-old daughter, Mariana, was killed by a drunken driver in 2006.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Some first-time DWI offenders on Staten Island will be required to attend a program that puts them face-to-face with the families of victims killed by drunken drivers.

The creation of a Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) "Victim Impact Panel" on Staten Island will put 34 first-time offenders in front of Mary Ann and Charles Edkins, whose 18-year-old daughter, Mariana, was killed in 2006.

The Edkinses will tell them how their lives were changed when their daughter died at the hands of a drunken driver, Richmond County District Attorney Daniel Donovan said yesterday at a press conference.

"At this time about a year ago, I said I'd like to talk and tell Mariana's story," Mrs. Edkins said. "It sort of makes me feel good, and she's not forgotten. And she could help somebody."

Mrs. Edkins said she felt compelled to reflect the compassion she was shown by police, the media and everyone else in a way that might prevent similar tragedies and help people realize the potential consequences of drinking and driving.

Her hope is that when people hear stories like hers, they will be affected enough to change.

Mariana Edkins

The first court-mandated session on the Island is scheduled for Oct. 19. It is sponsored by MADD of Long Island, which covers all five boroughs, and will be administered by Resources Training Center, a not-for-profit organization.

"The first time that they [DWI offenders] commit this offense and are found guilty, they should go get help, because the second time they're going to go to jail," Donovan said. "Individuals who are convicted of drunk driving on Staten Island, in addition to whatever other probationary sentence they get, are going to be commanded to go to one of these Victim Impact Panels."

The program will not cost taxpayers a dime; the $100 fee will be paid by the offenders as part of their sentencing, Donovan added.

"I've had the privilege of working with D.A. Donovan on this, and we praise him for treating drunk driving as the violent crime that it is," said Thomas McCoy, executive director of Long Island MADD.

In a full third of cases nationwide, a drunken driver who kills another person is a repeat offender, McCoy said.

"We have an opportunity to grab these people and put them in front of people like the Edkins, who can give them the other side of the story," McCoy explained.

Sentencing for offenders requiring this component began Aug. 19, and Donovan plans to continue the program, expanding it if necessary.

"The criminal justice system allows an offender to know how their drunk driving affects their own lives," Donovan said. "The Victim Impact Panel is going to allow them then to understand how it affects other people's lives."